H-1B wage levels
H-1B and PERM prevailing wages are set in four levels indexed to the local OEWS wage distribution for the occupation. The level reflects the job's skill, complexity, and judgment, so it changes by role and metro area rather than being a single national number.
Wage source
OEWS
Levels
1 – 4
Verified
2026-06-20
As of , the H-1B prevailing-wage system uses four wage levels tied to the local OEWS wage distribution: Level 1 (entry) at the 17th percentile, Level 2 (qualified) at the 34th, Level 3 (experienced) at the 50th, and Level 4 (fully competent) at the 67th percentile.
Page updated: . Last verified: . Date retrieved: . VisaSignal is a public filing research tool, not legal advice or a case-specific wage calculator.
Level by level
Each level is a percentile of the OEWS wage for a specific occupation and area, so the dollar value of a level changes with the SOC code and worksite. Use the level to read where a filing's prevailing wage sits, not as a universal salary.
Lowest of the four wage levels. DOL assigns it to roles requiring basic understanding of duties and limited judgment, often early-career or supervised positions.
For workers who have a good understanding of the occupation and perform moderately complex tasks with some independent judgment.
The median OEWS wage. Used for experienced workers who apply specialized knowledge and may guide or train others.
Highest of the four. For workers with sufficient experience to plan and lead projects and use advanced judgment in the occupation.
Pending change
A DOL notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register on March 27, 2026 would re-index the four levels higher. It is a proposed rule with a 60-day comment period and is not in effect — the current percentiles still apply to filings today.
| Wage level | Current percentile | Proposed percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 17th percentile | 34th percentile |
| Level 2 | 34th percentile | 52nd percentile |
| Level 3 | 50th percentile | 70th percentile |
| Level 4 | 67th percentile | 88th percentile |
How to read it
A wage level sets the prevailing-wage floor for a job. It is shaped by the occupation, area, and duties, and the employer's offered wage can still be higher.
The same Level 2 means different dollar amounts in different metro areas and SOC codes, because each level is a percentile of that local OEWS wage distribution — not a fixed national salary.
DOL maps the level from the job's requirements, complexity, supervision, and judgment described in the prevailing-wage request, so a senior title does not automatically mean Level 3 or 4.
Levels are computed from the OEWS survey by default. Employers may instead use another permitted wage source (e.g. an independent survey), which is why two filings for the same role can differ.
On an LCA, the wage level sets the prevailing-wage floor, but the employer's offered (actual) wage can be higher. Compare both in the public filing rows rather than reading the level alone.
Official-source trail
The percentile mapping reflects DOL prevailing-wage guidance and the March 2026 proposed rule, while VisaSignal salary pages rely on imported DOL LCA disclosure rows.
Continue researching
Use these pages to see how wage levels show up in real LCA rows and how they fit the broader required-wage rules.
LCA and PERM rows are filing signals, not USCIS approvals, green-card approvals, legal advice, or outcome predictions.
FAQ
The H-1B prevailing-wage system uses four wage levels tied to the local OEWS wage distribution for the occupation: Level 1 (entry) at the 17th percentile, Level 2 (qualified) at the 34th, Level 3 (experienced) at the 50th, and Level 4 (fully competent) at the 67th percentile. These figures have been in effect since 2005.
There is no single national salary range per level. Each level is a percentile of the OEWS wage for a specific occupation (SOC code) and metro area, so Level 1 in one city and occupation can exceed Level 4 in another. Look up the level for the exact role and worksite rather than a universal dollar figure.
Level 1 is set at the 17th percentile of the local OEWS wage for the occupation and is meant for entry-level roles; Level 2 is set at the 34th percentile for qualified workers performing moderately complex tasks. The dollar gap between them depends entirely on the occupation and area.
A DOL proposed rule published in the Federal Register on March 27, 2026 would raise the four levels to the 34th, 52nd, 70th, and 88th percentiles. As of June 2026 it is a proposed rule with a 60-day comment period and is not in effect; the current 17th/34th/50th/67th percentiles still apply.
The wage level is determined for a specific occupation, worksite area, and set of job requirements. Use the H-1B salary database and the LCA disclosure lookup to see the prevailing-wage and offered-wage fields on real filings for the role and employer you are researching.
No. A DOL-certified LCA is not the same as USCIS H-1B petition approval. It is an official labor-condition filing signal that should be interpreted with that limit.
No. PERM certification is one step in an employment-based green card process. It does not mean a green card, I-140 petition, or adjustment of status was approved.
No. Official filing history can show recent activity, roles, worksites, and wage signals, but it does not guarantee future sponsorship or predict legal outcomes.